The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers said in a statement that new car sales rose to 52,029 units in June from 42,331 units in the same month last year. While, sales during the April-June period, the first quarter of the current financial 2003-04, jumped 30 per cent, year-to-year, to 1,49,701 units.

Car sales of Maruti Udyog leapt 34.6 per cent to 24,540 units while sales of Hyundai grew 39 per cent driven by demand for the popular Santro Xing compact car launched in May.

However, Ford India, which makes the Ikon model, along with Fiat India has registered a negative sales-growth during the quarter ended June 30, 2003.

Sales of commercial vehicles, or trucks and buses combined, also rose 25 per cent to 18,330 units in the month from 14,659 in June 2002. Sales in April-June were up 19.7 per cent at 46,899 units. Truck sales soared last year driven by replacement demand.